This seminar is open to all international studies minors who are second-semester juniors or seniors. In 1933, Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud exchanged letters on the topic, "Why War?" People have asked this question since the beginning of recorded history. Many academic disciplines have contributed to our understanding of why wars happen: for example: what is the "psychological meaning" or psychological significance of war? What motives drive countries, and people, thus to organize and attempt to kill each other? To what extent do wars result from mistakes of perception and misjudgments? And could our social relationships and cultural institutions somehow drive us to war? Can any or all of these psychological forces be controlled or "tamed"? How?

Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms.